Welcome to another episode of our weekly series titled “Path towards Enlightenment” which is an endeavour to make you and us familiar with an easy and fluent explanation of God’s Final Scripture to all mankind, the holy Qur’an that was revealed to the Last and Greatest of all Messengers, Prophet Mohammad (blessings of God upon him and his progeny).

As you know, last week we started explanation of “Surah Toor”, and said that after Divine Oaths on some of the wonders of creation, such as the boundless sky, the brimming oceans, the Heavenly Scripture, and Mount Sinai where Prophet Moses received the Torah, God Almighty warns the deniers of truth of the woe that would befall the disbelievers on the Day of Judgement, since every evil deed has its own retributive and punishable chain of consequences.

We continue from where we left you last Friday and here are Ayahs 13, 14, 15, and 16 of Surah Toor:

“The day when they will be shoved toward the fire of hell forcibly;

“(And told) this is the fire which you used to deny!

“Is this then magic, or is it you who do not perceive?

“Enter it, and whether you are patient or impatient it will be the same for you. You are only being requited for what you used to do.’”

As is clear from the Ayahs that we recited now, on the Day of Judgement, the disbelievers will be subjected to Divine torment and pushed down by force into Hell and told that this is the Fire which you used to deny despite the clear warnings of the Prophets against indulgence in sins. They will be told: This is the consequence of your own deeds. Since the disbelievers used to mock at the miracles of the Prophets as magic, despite the gift of the intellect given by God and the long respite provided to them to think, repent, and reform, they shall be censured and rebuked on the Day of Resurrection by being asked: Do you call this sorcery? Are you not able to perceive the fire and feel its heat?

As Ayah 16 says, it will be told to the disbelievers, whether you are patient or impatient, your fate is now sealed and nothing can impede the torment that awaits you.

These Ayahs teach us the following points:

1. Intransigence towards the manifest truth and refusal to accept it, leads to severe punishment.
2. The punishments of the Day of Judgement are consequences of death in the state of disbelief and sins despite the long period of mercy shown by the All-Merciful Creator.
3. The ridiculing of religious values incurs bitter humiliation on the Day of Resurrection, in front of all mankind.

Now we invite you to listen to Ayahs 17, 18, and 19 of the same Surah:

“Indeed the Godwary will be amid gardens and bliss;

 Rejoicing because of what their Lord has given them and that their Lord has saved them from the punishment of hell.

(They will be told) Enjoy your food and drink (as a reward) for what you used to do.”

After warning those who denied Divine Signs of the dire consequences of their misdeeds, these Ayahs bear glad tidings to the God-fearing who abstained from sins and obeyed the Prophets and the Imams. It should be borne in mind that being in awe of God Almighty is an exalted state higher than belief and is indicative of the degree of proper cognizance of the Lord Most High.

Thus, on the Day when the heaven shall be cleft asunder, the constituent elements of the earth shall be scattered, the world shall come to its end, and disbelievers shall be pushed toward Hellfire, the God-fearing will be in the state of blissful delight in the Gardens of Paradise, safe from any torment or punishment of Hell, and enjoying abundant bounties and whatever shall be bestowed upon them by God Almighty. They will be provided a variety of healthy and delicious foods and drinks as reward for the firmness of their faith, virtue, and the good deeds they used to do.

From these Ayahs we learn that:

1. Godwariness, coupled with firm and true belief, is the key to Paradise.
2. Those who refrain from evil deeds with proper cognizance of God Almighty are safe from punishment and the fire of Hell on the Day of Judgment.
3. Paradise is the reward of one’s striving for virtue and righteousness in the face of difficulties and even persecution. As the proverb goes, “No pain no gain.”

Now let us listen to Ayahs 20 and 21 in conclusion of this week’s episode:

“They will be reclining on arrayed couches and We will wed them to big-eyed houris.

“The faithful and their descendants who followed them in faith- We will make their descendants to join them, and We will not stint anything from their deeds. Every person is a pledge of what he has earned.”

The rewards for the people of Paradise will be both spiritual and material bounties. For them to recline upon will be luxurious couches of the finest and most comfortable type, immaculately arranged in ranks. God Almighty shall marry them to houries having wide and lovely eyes, as compensation for their abstinence from sins and whatever was religiously forbidden.

The next Ayah gives tidings to the true believers and the virtuous children and progenies they had groomed by instilling in their hearts faith and Godwariness, that they shall be joined in Paradise by their offspring, without the least effect on the rewards reserved for them.

It is narrated from the Prophet of Islam by his First Infallible Successor, the Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali (AS): “True believers and their offspring shall be in Paradise reciting this Ayah.”

Of course, God the All-Merciful forgives those who repent and reform themselves, through compensation for the imperfections of their deeds, and the rejoining of members of a family in Paradise, is thus part of Divine Favours.

These Ayahs teach us that:

1. Paradise is the place of chastity, virtue, and morality where men and women will be legally and lawfully bonded together in the sanctity of wedlock, and not any form of licentiousness.
2. Those who abstain from casting indecent looks in the world will receive beautiful spouses in Paradise.
3. In Islam, faith is the base for building a virtuous family; thus, the true believers will be joined by their virtuous spouses and offspring in Paradise.
4. The need of spouse and children is part of innate human nature that will be preserved in Paradise as well by the Almighty Creator.

RM/AS/SS